Gaming

The Dutch gaming industry is very popular. The gaming industry consists of more than just developers and producers of entertainment games such as Mario, World of Warcraft and Fifa. We are increasingly seeing games and simulation being used in healthcare, education, training and communications, i.e. serious or applied gaming.

What's happening?

The best examples

abcdesim: Saving lives with a game

abcdesim is the first game in the Netherlands to be recognized as a complete training tool. This crossover between medical science and the gaming industry is proving highly effective for learning to save lives. Players have 15 minutes to stabilize the virtual patients. Just like in real life, what is wrong with the patient is unknown.

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Smartgate, a connecting game

By playing the game, the player gains insight into how the chain works as a system and into the advantages of the services of SmartGate Cargo. During the game the player has to deal with the transport of freight at the airport, from the transporter hall where the goods come in, via the forwarder and the handler to the airline to be finally transported by air.

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Approximately 330 companies operate in the Dutch gaming industry, generating a total of 3,000 jobs. The turnover of the gaming industry was estimated at being between 150 and 225 million euro in 2011. The Netherlands is also an international player.

The Dutch gaming industry is known worldwide for its surprising insights and outside-the-box thinking with regard to design. We have a strong user focus and are inventive. Many companies therefore link creativity to technical innovation. This has already resulted in beautiful products, such as Bounden of Game Oven, which is a game that was developed together with the National Ballet. Or cushions as input for technical devices: Pillo.

The applied gaming industry in the Netherlands is promising and is about to be scaled up. The global market for applied gaming is therefore growing rapidly, and expects to achieve a turnover of 10 billion euro in 2015. IJsfontein is one of the best known companies in this industry for its applied games. This company focuses on making media interactive, making learning fun is key.  For example a serious game for the training of (medical) staff, interactive exhibitions and apps for museums or a cross platform digital method for primary education.

Querilla Games is a key player in the Entertainment Games industry and was incorporated in 2000 after three small Dutch studios joined forces in 2000 and was taken over by Sony Computer Entertainment five years later. Now this Dutch company also has a branch in Cambridge (UK).

The Dutch company Vlambeer, which designed the game Ridiculous Fishing in 2013, has achieved international success. Apple has hailed this game as the iPhone game of the year.

Dutch Game Garden organises events and projects for Dutch game developers for the purposes of providing information, innovation, exchanging information and exposure.  They help new businesses with a start-up support program and it is where companies, financiers, knowledge institutions and government bodies meet to exchange information and expertise.  Gaming companies looking for an inspiring flexible work location can also contact Dutch Game Garden.